To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 1994, Frumar, the fruit importer which went on to merge with Francis Nicholls and become part of Redbridge, held TACT - a charity event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
For Tenth Anniversary Children’s Trust (TACT) now read Twentieth Anniversary Children’s Trust. Former Frumar chief Mark Swanwick and a group of his old Frumar colleagues are organising a similar event in 2004 and have lined up a star-studded evening of entertainment.
The first event was an unqualified success, raising an amazing £40,000 for childrens’ charities. This year’s event will take place on November 25 and already top speakers in former government spin doctor, turned sports columnist and TV talk show host Alastair Campbell and BBC rugby correspondent Ian Robertson have been signed up to entertain the audience, alongside singer David Sneddon, a winner on TV’s Fame Academy.
Swanwick said: “TACT was supposed to be a one-off. Frumar started in 1984 with next to nothing and we travelled some way in 10 years. TACT was the team’s way of recognising we had been luckier than a lot of people. In 1994 we were overwhelmed by the response and generosity of the fresh produce industry - we didn’t think for one second that we’d raise as much as £40,000 and out-and-out competitors all turned out on the evening to support good causes.
“Members of that team have since gone their separate ways, but we have come together for one last time to try to do it again. I am not as involved with the fruit industry as I was 10 years ago, but I still have lots of friends in the trade and would love to get them all at the event again.”
TACT is being held to raise money for children-focused charities. This year’s beneficiaries include:
• The Anthony Nolan Trust, which provides life-saving donors for patients suffering from leukaemia or other blood related diseases who require a bone marrow transplant;
• Leukaemia Research, which is the only UK charity devoted to research into the prevention, treatment and cure of all blood cancers;
• Just a Drop, which provides clean water to children anywhere in the world. Incredibly more children die under the age of five from diseases caused by water pollution than anything else;
• The Children’s Trust Tadworth, which provides therapy and education for children with multiple disabilities.
In addition to the dinner, for which tables of 10 are available for £950 and single places for £95, money will be raised through a raffle which has as its first prize a luxury holiday at Le Meridien Bath & Spa Resort Dubai, complete with business class flights from Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates.,. More holidays in France, Italy and the UK have already been donated, as well as Kingfisher beer for a year.
For more details about TACT and to buy or sell raffle tickets, contact Mark Swanwick on 07798 628578 or Guy Parkes of the Anthony Nolan Trust on 020 72848271.
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